Ref: 56/2009
Date: 29 October 2009
PCHR Organizes 4 New Workshops in Cooperation with Civil Society Organizations to Promote Democracy in Palestinian Society
The Palestinian Centre for Human Rights’ (PCHR) Democratic Development Unit organized four workshops in cooperation with civil society organizations. These workshops formed part of a continuing se series of activities organized by PCHR as part of its work in promoting democracy in Palestinian society. The latest workshop was held on Thursday, 29 October 2009 in cooperation with the Southern Journalists’ Forum in Rafah. 20 participants attended, in the main office of the Forum, including male and female students and recent graduates from the Journalism Department. During the meeting, Mahmoud al-Efranji, a researcher in the Democratic Development Unit, presented a paper on: “The Right to Peaceful Assembly under the Palestinian National Authority”.
On Wednesday, 28 October 2009, a meeting was held in cooperation with the Creative Woman’s Association in Gaza City entitled: “Promoting the Concept of Democracy and Political Participation in Society”. The meeting was attended by 25 specialists and volunteers of the Association. Salah Abu Hatab, a social activist, presented a paper entitled: “Concepts of Democracy and Political Participation in the Democratic System”.
A previous workshop was also held in Gaza City on 27 October 2009 in cooperation with the National Commission for Development and Community Rehabilitation where number of active university students working in the Commission attended. During the meeting, Mahmoud al-Efranji, a researcher in the Democratic Development Unit, presented a paper on: “The Right to Free Opinion and Expression under the Palestinian National Authority”.
A fourth workshop was held by PCHR on 22 October 2009 in cooperation with the Youth Union of Palestinian Struggle in Khan Yunis. A paper on: “Concept of Democracy and Political Participation in the Democratic System” was presented by Salah Abu Hatab, a social activist, during the meeting which was held in PCHR’s main office in Khan Yunis.
These workshops formed part of a series of activities organized by PCHR as part of its continuing efforts to work for the promotion and reinforcement of democracy in Palestinian society in cooperation with other civil society organizations. These workshops aim at raising public awareness of the concepts of democracy and means of reinforcing democracy among Palestinian society. Such activities are increasingly urgent in light of Palestinian citizens’ deteriorating trust in the democratic process as a result of the international society’s boycott of the lat legislative elections’ results and due to the internal division and its destructive ramifications on the Palestinian cause.
